Two local board game inventors have won the “Best Idea for Humanity Contest” with their relationship game Synchrohearts.

Mission’s Bobby O’Neal, aka Dr. Love, and his wife Nanci won the top prize of the American contest, including a $50,000 online marketing launch, book contract, iTunes app development and a seven-day trip to Grail Springs Resort and Spa in Bancroft, Ontario.

O’Neal is no stranger to competition. He has appeared twice on the CBC show Dragons’ Den where he was unsuccessful in both of his attempts to convince the Dragons to invest in his relationship game.

But O’Neal thinks the Dragons will be interested in the $50,000 marketing launch prize and in the development of the new products for his business.

“The recession was tough on our board game sales last year, but we believe in what we are doing,” said O’Neal.

The Messenger Network in the US sponsored this contest to find entrepreneurs who were making a difference in the world with their business or ideas.

There were 400 entrants and a panel of judges that included successful entrepreneurs, economists, university professors, and authors.

The book deal — which will be titled “Dr. Love’s Prescription for a Romantic Loving Man – It’s not the little blue pill” — is especially appealing to O’Neal, who said he hopes readers will be entertained with some funny stories and inspired with some revealing heart-warming stories.

“I wrote the book as a tribute to my dad and as a message of hope for my son.”

O’Neal sent a signed copy of the book to the Dragons’ Den producers, jokingly adding that he finally got his revenge on the Dragon who said, “I don’t care about love, show me the money.”

The contest organizers wanted the O’Neals to modernize their board game with the development of an iPhone app.

The Syncrohearts app on iTunes and the new book were both released last week, just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Dr. Love will be at the Mission Shoppers Drug Mart Feb. 11 from 2-4 p.m. signing love games and books.